Dangers of At Home Meth Detox

Have you seen those funny TV shows where a kid tries some ridiculous stunt and ends up wiping out? There is usually a disclaimer at the beginning of the episode that reads something like, “Don’t try this at home.”

If you are considering a do-it-yourself detox from methamphetamines at home, we’d like to share the same message; at-home meth detox is risky and potentially something you should not attempt.

This article discusses the pros and cons of trying to detox from meth at home. Is it possible? What factors should you consider if you are thinking about trying this at home? Under what circumstances would a rehab facility be a better place to detox from meth?

Washington State Drug Rehab vs. At-Home Meth Detox

Lasting up to 40 weeks, methamphetamine withdrawal is a slow, difficult, and enormously valuable process. The idea of withdrawal is nerve-wracking, but it should not deter you from pursuing a better life.

Crystal meth is a dangerously addictive drug. Users can literally be hooked after just trying it a few times. As a stimulant, meth acts on the centers of the brain that release dopamine, which is a pleasurable chemical that provides a “rush.” The rush quickly fades, requiring more and more of the drug to keep the pleasure centers of the brain activated. Users are quickly hooked on the euphoric feeling the drug causes but it takes more of it over time to produce the same effect.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that withdrawal from meth causes intense cravings for the drug along with acute anxiety and severe depression. Meth withdrawal can last for weeks.

Psychology Today talks about the plummeting lows felt by meth addicts when the overly stimulated centers of the brain that release dopamine stop producing it. They suggest that the brain reacts in exactly the opposite way during meth withdrawal, including the complete inability to feel any pleasure at all. Because the brain has had its dopamine receptors overly stimulated by meth, it can take years for these sensitive chemical functions to begin to react normally.

The depression felt by a recovering meth addict is debilitating, and it easily can lead back to meth use so the person can feel something – anything – pleasurable again. This phase of withdrawal can last up to 10 weeks. Can you imagine handling this overwhelming craving without the support of counselors, physicians, and peers at Washington State drug rehab?

In addition to severe depression, mood swings, anxiety, and hallucinations, withdrawal can include nausea and vomiting, seizures, heart palpitations, coma, and even death. The longer the addiction, the harder the withdrawal will be.

These are all good arguments for seeking the help of a Washington State drug rehab facility for treatment and not attempting to withdraw from these powerful drugs alone at home.

Withdrawing from methamphetamines is a necessary first step toward recovery and regaining your life. There are skilled professionals standing by to help you or your loved one alleviate the painful symptoms of withdrawal and then establish a routine of therapeutic treatments to help you get healthy again. All you have to do is make the call.

Are you ready to do that today? Contact us now. We are waiting for your call.